Date:__________________
HomeFront Weekly is designed for you to use during the week with your son or daughter. You’ll find out what they learned today at church and can help them prepare for next week by exploring the theme (or Ponder Point) and spending time together in God’s Word.
WHAT WE LEARNED THIS WEEK PONDER POINT: GOD SPEAKS
Lesson 2.8
CONNECT AS A FAMILY Take your children outside to gather some rocks. Read 1 Samuel 7:3–13. After you’ve finished reading, explain that Samuel set up a rock to remind the Israelites that God had been their helper. Encourage your children to think of times that God has helped them. Pile up your rocks, each stone representing a time your children have received the Lord’s help.
Samuel 1 Samuel 3 Samuel was a young apprentice serving God in the temple. One night, he heard a voice calling to him. Thinking it was the head priest, Eli, Samuel obediently ran to Eli’s room. Eli told Samuel he had not called him. After this happened three times, Eli realized that God was speaking to Samuel and instructed Samuel to respond to God the next time it happened. After Samuel responded, God spoke to him and gave him a special message for Eli. God speaks to His people in many different ways, even today.
After reading the Scripture passage, discuss these questions together: • How did God help the Israelites? • Is there something you need God’s help with? • How can we thank God for His help?
WHERE WE’RE HEADED NEXT TIME
REMEMBER VERSE
PONDER POINT: GOD IS HELP
The Remember Verse focuses on a character trait of God that’s highlighted in next week’s portion of The Big God Story.
Ebenezer 1 Samuel 7:3–13 Samuel sets up a stone of help as a reminder of all God had done for the people.
DID YOU KNOW? Share these facts to get the conversation started. • Throughout Israel’s 450-year time of the judges, the people were caught in a constant cycle of disobedience and restoration. • When the Israelites returned to the Lord, He gave them victory over the Philistines. • Samuel set a large stone in the ground and named it Ebenezer, which means “stone of help,” declaring, “Thus far the LORD has helped us” (I Samuel 7:12).
These questions can easily extend into the rest of the week. Look for opportunities to bring conversations about how God Is Help into your everyday life as a family.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21
BLESSING Blessings are often used in the Bible. A blessing can be a prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words to encourage and guide. A blessing to pray over your child: (Child’s name), may you see all the ways God is helping you and our family this week. For more information about blessing your child, go to truministry.com to the Parenting tab. And for more creative ideas on spiritually leading your family, visit HomeFrontMag.com.
© 2016 David C Cook. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children’s ministry leaders. All rights reserved. Reproducible for church use only.